The Forager Traipses: Help me forage in far-off lands

Thanks to my dear friends in Oakland for housing her. You know who you are.

All raise a great cry of pity for my poor darling, Bee-Sting Betty, a 1997 Honda Shadow, who has been locked in an Oakland warehouse for the last two years. With a helpful ultimatum from the dear friend whose space it is, I booked a flight to the Bay Area — ostensibly to sell the bike, but probably, and dishearteningly, just to move it to storage and deal another day. But what I really want is to have it back.

On an impulse, I spent yesterday at the DMV. Now I’ve got my motorcycle license back; I’ve got plates; and I’ve got a new plan. Go West. Drive Bee-Sting Betty home to Madison. Avoid snow. Forage along the way.

Now, a cry for help.

Because what is the point of a road trip if not to find great pie/carne asada/barbeque/diners/salads? Where can I go mushroom-hunting in New Mexico? Or find the best octopus taco in southern California? Where are the best places to sleep in Oklahoma, a state I have never even thought about once? And what, seasoned travelers, must I absolutely bring with me, aside from underpants, leathers and a headlamp? I have a limited grasp of geography, and an even more limited ability to plan ahead. So—help.

Start from SF: Nov 3, or as soon as I can get my bike cleaned up, tuned up and insured.

Mandatory stops so far are few:
• Modesto
• Los Angeles
• St. Louis

Suggestions, comments, portents of November-flurry doom? Email my gmail address: Kate dot golden. Now, God help me, I have to pack. Missives, dear readers, will be sparse these next couple of weeks, but I’ll try to keep you updated.

If you happen to take a southern route that would go through Tucson, you’d find a friend in Adrian’s little sister, Bianca, and her husband Matt Marcus. She has great things to say abut Tucson and any friend of Adrians….

About the author

I’m Kate Golden, a reporter who left Juneau, Alaska, just when the cohos started to come in. I’m on the hunt for wild berries, mushrooms, nuts, fish and critters in urban Madison, Wisconsin. Plus transcendental dumplings, or whatever else is out there.